People's Democracy

Lok Morcha Resolutions

1. Attack on Jammu & Kashmir   Legislature

THIS meeting of the Lok Morcha condemns the attack on the Jammu & Kashmir assembly building that led to the death of over 40 people. The attack, for which the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility, demonstrates that terrorist violence continues to plague the state.

Contrary to the assurances given by the Vajpayee government that all steps have been taken to meet the challenge of the extremists, such a brazen attack against the J& K legislature has been executed. The central government should entertain no illusion that the proposed military action by the US in Afghanistan in its so-called war against global terrorism, will in any way help in curbing terrorist activities in Jammu & Kashmir. While security measures to curb such activities will have to be strengthened, it has to be reiterated that it is only a political initiative aimed at addressing the problem in the state that can rally the people against the extremist forces.

On the contrary, the BJP-led government is adopting a defective approach. Prime minister Vajpayee, through his letter to George Bush, has sought the intervention of the American president. The Indian stand has been that on this issue no third-party intervention would be entertained. Seeking American intervention will be detrimental to India's interests.

1. Aggravating Economic Situation

THIS meeting of the Lok Morcha took note of the worsening economic situation. The meeting noted that the BJP-led government is attempting to cover up its miserable performance on the economic front by referring to the worsening economic atmosphere internationally after the September 11 attacks in the US. Prime minister Vajpayee, in his address to the nation, had forewarned about more burdens being imposed on the people in the name of fighting global terrorism. The Lok Morcha would like to warn the central government against imposing more burdens on the people.

While the FCI godowns are overflowing with foodgrains and starvation deaths have been reported from Orissa, the government refuses to distribute it to people in the drought-hit areas or start food-for-work programmes. The government does not seem to have learnt any lesson from the dubious sale of BALCO. It now intends to put 13 public sector units for sale.

In the coming days, the NDA government will launch increasing attacks on the people's livelihood and impose greater burdens on them. It calls upon the people to unitedly fight to defeat such moves.

1. Uttar Pradesh Election

IN the background of the rise of communal forces under the flag of the BJP, the coming UP elections are of utmost importance for the unity and integrity of the country. At present Lok Morcha is the only force which is capable of defeating the BJP and other rightist forces. This meeting appeals to the electorate to vote for the Samajwadi Party and its allies and defeat the dark forces of communalism and the Congress. This combination alone will be able to strengthen unity.

Law and order situation has totally collapsed in UP. Lucknow, the capital of UP, has grown to be the shelter of criminals and mafias. These criminals enjoy the direct patronage of the chief minister of the state. In Lucknow, several reputed doctors, industrialists and officers have been kidnapped and killed. No action so far has been initiated in any of such cases. Certain ministers of UP, considered to be very close to the chief minister, are involved in kidnapping and realising ransom. In the entire state, in a very planned way, Samajwadi Party workers are being done to death and falsely implicated in serious cases. There is no example elsewhere to be found of the way the lawyers and judges were indiscriminately lathicharged in some of the districts of UP following their peaceful demonstration.